Not a Normal Country : Italy After Berlusconi

Description

'I know of no book in English dedicated with such focus and depth on Berlusconi's politics. ... Geoff Andrew's grasp of political culture is profound and reflective.' Gino Bedani, Research Professor in Italian, University of Swansea

Not a Normal Country explores Italian politics and culture in the era of Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's richest man and one of its longest serving prime ministers. Geoff Andrews argues that the `Berlusconi phenomenon' was a populist response to widespread cynicism towards politics. Berlusconi posed as an `anti-politician', and based his appeal on his virtues as a salesman rather than a statesman.

The second part of the book discusses the varied opposition to Berlusconi. This ranges from the anti-global demonstrations in Genoa in 2001 to unconventional protests such as the Girotondo movement led by the film director Nanni Moretti. According to Andrews, this new associationism has helped rebuild Italian politics.

Finally, Andrews looks to the future and, through the examples of anti-mafia protests in Sicily as well as opposition to the Americanisation of Italian culture, considers the prospects for the new post-Berlusconi Italy.show more

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Review quote

'Unusually penetrating insights into the nature of the 'Berlusconi phenomenon' ... Beautifully written' -- Jim Newell, Reader in Politics, University of Salford 'Describes a new postmodern paradigm opening up in the Berlusconi era' -- Reference & Research Book News 'I know of no book at the moment in English dedicated with such focus and depth on Berlusconi's politics' -- Gino Bedani, Research Professor in Italian, University of Swanseashow more

About Geoff Andrews

Geoff Andrews is the author The Slow Food Story (Pluto, 2008) and Not a Normal Country: Italy after Berlusconi (Pluto, 2005). He also writes for a range of newspapers, including the Financial Times, Open Democracy, and Soundings, for which he was an associate editor.show more

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